Chapter 82: Chapter82-Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
"Elowen, after teaching you for so many days, how's your progress?"
As John and the queen walked out of the palace, they found Elowen waiting there. Seeing John and the queen walking side by side, Elowen hurriedly approached them.
"I've lived up to your expectations, Master John!"
"Good, show your queen what you've learned."
"Understood!"
Elowen's expression became serious. He began chanting, and a directed teleportation array appeared beneath his feet.
Moments later, a seven-meter-tall steel giant descended from the sky—it was the golem that Seraphina had modified!
Considering that the elves would lack top-tier combat power once Elaria left, John had pondered deeply and decided to leave the golem with Elowen.
Elowen would control the golem to protect the elves, ensuring that Elaria's departure would not cause a significant impact.
Of course, since the golem was a machine, it would inevitably suffer damage over time.
But that was not important, as John could return periodically to repair the golem.
The key was whether Elowen could control the golem well and unleash its full potential.
Fortunately, Elowen had not disappointed John.
After this period of training, he had successfully mastered the knack of controlling the golem.
The cumbersome steel beast moved with surprising agility under Elowen's control.
"Your Majesty, I have tested the golem with Master John. Its power is quite considerable. With it, I can better protect everyone!
Your Majesty, you've worked tirelessly for the elves for so many years. It's time for you to pursue your own life."
"Elowen, how did you know?"
"Master John told me. He said you belong with him now, and that soon you would be journeying with him. He asked me to quickly learn to control the golem.
Unless... Master John was lying to me?"
"Why do you have to say everything?"
Elaria's cheeks flushed as she shot a fierce glance at John, then cleared her throat and said, "This matter should not be disclosed to other tribesmen..."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"
"Elowen, there's something I'd like your opinion on."
Elaria took a deep breath and said solemnly, "After I leave, I want to pass my position to you. I want you to lead the elves. What do you think, Elowen?"
Hearing this, Elowen stood stunned, pinching his ear in disbelief. "Your Majesty, are you joking?"
"Of course not. I'm serious, Elowen. After I leave, the elves will need a leader. In terms of ability and prestige, no one is more suitable than you."
"You must be joking... Your Majesty, I can't accept this. The elves can only have one leader, and that's you. After you leave, I can temporarily lead the elves, but taking your place... absolutely not!"
"Why? If I pass my position to you, you'll be able to manage the elves more legitimately, won't you?"
"No reason. If I must give one..."
Elowen glanced at John and said solemnly, "If one day, Your Majesty grows tired of traveling and returns to the elven habitat, it will always be your home."
Hearing this, Elaria felt a warmth in her heart.
"Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean by that, kid?"
"Master John, I'm already 195 years old. You're the kid."
"Hey, learned to talk back, have you? Did Exiled Immortal teach you that?"
John rushed forward, playfully putting Elowen in a headlock.
Seeing this, Elaria smiled and said, "I understand your intention, but I must pass this position to you. Without a legitimate leader, things might be fine in the short term, but over time, problems could arise.
As for the scenario you mentioned, I hope it never happens."
...
John eventually left.
The countdown felt like an inescapable shadow, always looming over John, urging him to keep moving forward. No matter how much he wanted to linger, he couldn't stop.
Elaria finally convinced Elowen, and they held the ceremony for the transfer of power.
With the recent end of the great battle, Elowen's leadership had become deeply ingrained in people's hearts, so there was almost no opposition.
Even if a few were envious, they wouldn't publicly challenge it in such a setting.
"So, Elaria is coming with us?"
Helena, one of the last to know, seemed a bit surprised.
Although the NPCs in the game world had thought processes similar to ordinary people, the idea of traveling with an NPC still felt a bit strange.
"Yes, now that the situation here is settled, the elves will continue to develop steadily. Even without Elaria's protection, there shouldn't be any major issues. So, Elaria found me and expressed her desire to continue the journey and adventure with us."
"Well... I don't have any objections. After all, Elaria's strength is evident. Having her with us will be a great asset. Lily, Exiled Immortal, do you have any objections?"
Helena turned around to see Exiled Immortal being playfully restrained by Qing, unable to break free.
As for Lily, she wore an adorably confused expression, as if she didn't understand what was being discussed. Helena sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"Since there are no objections, it's settled then. We'll rest for half an hour and then set off. As for our next destination..."
John stood up, looking westward.
"Next stop, [The Blazing Plains, Talcavano!]"
...
"Wired... why do I feel so uneasy lately?"
Inside Calia City, S. massaged his temples, feeling a persistent, sharp pain in his head, as if something was trying to burst out of his brain.
"Anyway, it's about time for me to hit the road. The dungeon levels around Calia City can't support my growth anymore. But [Deep Forest]... no, I still won't go there. I hate snakes and bugs. With my level, heading straight to the next major map shouldn't be an issue."
Since the first major event ended, players had gained access to a forum for exchanging experiences, which naturally included strategies for new maps and dungeons.
The guide for [Deep Forest] was quite comprehensive. Some players had even discovered a way to bypass NPCs and enter the Whispering Forest directly, with a decent success rate.
Unfortunately, S. had an innate aversion to forest environments.
Perhaps because he had always hated insects since childhood, S. felt a deep-seated fear towards all multi-legged, multi-eyed bugs.
The mere thought of the Whispering Forest, teeming with serpents and creepy crawlies, made S. feel nauseous.
To achieve a second breakthrough, apart from dungeon drops, one could also engage in trading, though it might require a hefty sum.
But money was no issue for S. After all, when it came to preying on others, he was a professional!
With that in mind, S. opened the forum and posted a message.
"Seeking to buy a second class change stone for the rogue class. Offering 10% above market price. Interested parties, please contact me. Willing to pay 30% deposit upfront."
Such posts were common on the forum, as players were eager to communicate after such a long wait. Naturally, these posts received a lot of attention.
In less than half an hour, when S. logged back into the forum, his post had dozens of replies. Among the replies were genuine offers, and he found a seller.
"I have a rogue class second class change stone. Where are you? I can come to trade, but you need to cover the cost of the teleportation scroll."
Seeing this, S. grinned.
See? Here's the sucker!
"No problem. I'm near the fountain in the center of Calia City. You can come over now."
"Okay, I'll head over right away."
Seeing no further replies from the seller, S. also logged out of the forum.
A fair trade was out of the question. All of S.'s current gear had been taken from others. Spending money was more painful than death for him.
But figuring out how to snatch the second class change stone from the seller would be a bit tricky.
"Maybe... an ambush?"